Signal-indicator device



Filed Jan. 2, 1962 INVENTOR. lizaz'las 27 MaZZz' United States Patent3,120,213 SlGNAL-INDICATGR DEVECE Charles T. Mulligan, 3504 Everton St,Wheaten, Md. Filed Jan. 2, 1962, Ser. N 163,503 Claims. (Cl. 116-133)This invention relates to signal-indicator devices and, moreparticularly, to a signal-indicator device for use by an individualwhile ofiiciating a football game.

In most instances, individuals while oificiating a football game mustcarry, employ and operate at least two separate and independent devices,which are usually in the form of an audible signal, like a whistle, forsignaling the end of a down, time out, time in, end of play period, etc.a Visual indicator for indicating the downs of play, such as first,second, third and fourth as well as no down plays, such as kickoifs,extra points, etc.; time indicators, such as stop watches for indicatingtime intervals for the play periods, time outs, etc.; various types offlags for indicating infractions of the rules, and other devices, suchas pistols which may be employed to signal the end of a play period.

The audible signal used by individuals while oficiating a football gameis usually a whistle which may be carried about the neck of theofficial, by suitable lanyards, or the like, or carried by the hand ofthe olficial during the game. Whether the whistle is carried about theofiicials neck or in the hand of the oificial usually depends upon theparticular personal preferences of the individual.

However, in using the hand-carried type of whistle, an ofiicial isusually protected against being guilty of a quick whistle since the handwhistle must first be brought to the oificials month before the signalmay be given While a whistle which is supported by a lanyard about theoificials neck is usually carried in the officials mouth during the playperiod which enables the official to give the signal which, in manyinstances, might cause the oilicial to be guilty of giving a quickwhistle before the ball should have been signaled or declared dead.

The usual visual indicator for indicating the down of a series of playsnormally takes the form of a hand-carried indicator device wherein thereis employed indicia which is selectable on option of the official toindicate the down number of the upcoming play with the indicia beingselectable, as desired, by manual operation of the fingers or thumb ofthe officials hand.

Hence, ofiicials of football games who prefer to use a hand-carriedwhistle are somewhat handicapped by reason of the fact that the otherimplements employed, such as the watches, flags, pistols, andparticularly the indicator device for indicating the down of theupcoming play are also generally hand operated by the fingers or thumbof the individuals hand.

Further, it has been found that since oiiicials While in the process ofofficiating a football game must be active in other aspects than merelywatching the play; for instance, between the downs of play the ball mustbe retrieved and properly positioned for the next play which may requirethat the ball be passed from one official to another oiiicial; that inthis type of activity, it is highly desirable that the ofiicial have thefingers and thumbs of his hand free to handle the ball.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide asignal-indicator device for producing an audible signal and forindicating a visual indicia for use by an individual while officiating afootball game with structure for enabling the signal-indicator device tobe carried conveniently by and secured to the fingers of the hand of theofficial.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a signal whistle and adown indicator with structure for enabling the signal whistle and downindicator to be conveniently hand carried by the fingers of anindividual while officiating a football game.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unitarysignal-indicator device which includes a signal whistle and a downindicator which are connected together by structure in a manner whichenables an individual to conveniently hand carry the signal-indicatordevice while oificiating a football game.

An additional object of this invention is to provide structure Whichconnects and secures a signal whistle to a down indicator to define asignal-indicator device which may be conveniently hand carried by anindividual While officiating a football game.

Other objects, advantages and important features of the invention willbe apparent from a study of the specification following, taken with thedrawing, which together describe, disclose and illustrate certainembodiments or modifications of the invention and what is now consideredto be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Still otherembodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having thebenefit of the teachings therein and such other embodiments ormodifications are intended to be reserved especially as they fall withinthe scope and breadth of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a signal-indicator device havinghand-hold structure incorporated therewith according to the concept ofthis invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the signalindicator device ofFIGURE 1 as viewed from the left thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the signal-indicator device illustrated inFIGURE 1;

FEGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 1 butillustrating a modification of the signal-indica tor device, and

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URES 1 and 5 butillustrating still another modification of the signal-indicator device.

Attention is now directed to FIGURE 1 of the drawing wherein there isillustrated a signal-indicator device 10 having an audible signal 12 inthe form of a whistle, a visual indicator 14 in the form of selectableindicia, and strucnire 16 having an arrangement Ill-29 in the form of atleast one element or member for securing the signal-indicator device it)to the index and middle fingers, not illustrated, of an individuals handto enable the sigrial-indicator device It) to be conveniently securedthereto and carried thereby in a manner which will enable the individualto have use of the fingers or thumb of the hand which is carrying thesignal-indicator device 10 while ofiiciating a football game and enablethe individual to perform the many tasks required by an official Jhileofficiating a football game as well as providing easy access to and useof the signal-indicator device 15), when required.

The signal-indicator device 10 may be formed of any suitable metallicmaterial or plastic substance, such as nylon or the like, and it is tobe noted that the structure 16 is joined or otherwise secured directlyto, or may be formed integral with, both the audible signal 12 and thevisual indicator E4, to define a unitary device with the structure 16being disposed intermediate of and extending between the audible signal12 and the visual indicator l i so that the visual indicator 14 may bepositioned adjacent to the palm of the individuals hand, notillustrated, and the audible signal 12 may be adjacent to the back ofthe individuals hand, also not illustrated, when the signal-indicatordevice it is in use by the individual in the process of officiating afootball game.

The signal-indicator device 141 is intended to be used by an individualfor ofiiciating a football game with the audible signal 12 beingemployed to signal certain game conditions, such as the end of a down,time out, time in, end of a play period, etc., and the visual indicator14 being employed to indicate the down number of a play, i.e., first,second, third or fourth, as well as no down plays, such as kickoffs,extra points, etc.

As is customary as mentioned above and as illustrated in the figures ofthe drawing, the audible signal 12 is preferably in the form of awhistle.

Also, as illustrated in the drawing, the visual indicator 14 may takethe form of a housing 22 formed of substantially like top 24 and bottom26 half portions which may be secured together by a press fit or someother suitable securing means to define a chamber 23 wherein there isrotatably mounted, by means of a shaft 30, fixed between the top 24 andthe bottom 26 portions of the housing 22, a disc 32 having indicia 34thereon with the indicia 34 being preferably numerals in character, suchas 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, or the like, with the indicia being used forindicating a no down play; the indicia 1, 2, 3, and 4 being used,respectively, to indicate the sequence of downs in a given series ofplays of a football game.

The outer peripheral edge portion 36 of the disc 32 is preferablyknurled or otherwise roughened to facilitate in the positioning of thedisc 32 in a manner so that the selected one of the indicia 34 may beviewed through an aperture 38 formed in the bottom portion 24 of thehousing 22 with the aperture 38 being formed therein at a location whichmay be in registry with selected locations of the indicia 34 on the disc32.

Suitable bias 4% in the form of a resilient spring-like member may beinterposed between the bottom portion 26 of the housing 22 and the disc32 to restrain the disc 32 against inadvertent, accidental rotation sothat the selected indicia 34 may be maintained in the desired positionfor viewing through the aperture 38 in the bottom portion 26 of thehousing 22.

It is also to be noted that a part 42 of the disc 32 projects beyond theconfines of the housing 22 and is positioned during use of thesignal-indicator device in close proximity to the thumb, notillustrated, of the individual to enable the thumb to act on the knurledouter peripheral edge portion 36 of the disc 22 and exert a forcethereon to overcome the bias 41D and reposition the disc 32 as desiredto select a given one of the indicia 34 for viewing through the aperture38 in the bottom portion 26 of the housing 22 and so indicate to theofiicial the selected down of a given series of plays in a footballgame.

The housing 22 of the visual indicator 14 may be shaped, if desired orrequested, to conform to the configuration of an individuals palm,fingers, thumb, etc., when the hand of the individual is clenched.

The structure 16 may take any suitable form and be bodily flexible orbodily rigid, as desired, provided that the arrangement 1820 of thestructure 16 is capable of securing the signal-indicator device 11) tothe hand of the individual so that the audible signal 12 may be disposedto the back and the visual indicator may be disposed adjacent to thepalm, as described and disclosed above.

The arrangement 1820 of the structure 16, as illustrated in FIGURES 1and 2 of the drawing, is shown in the form of a pair of annular endlessring-like elements or members having the peripheral edge portionsthereof joined or otherwise secured together at a location 44 bysuitable means or formed integral with each other in a manner whichenables the individuals index finger, not illustrated, to pass throughthe element or member 18 and the individuals middle finger, notillustrated, to pass through the element or member 20. The ring-likeelements or members 18 and 2d are 3 1$) each P tively joined, secured orformed integral with the top portion 24 of the housing 22 along theperipheral outer edge portions thereof at locations 4648 thereon whichare each circumferentially spaced from the location 44 so that thehousing 22 will be disposed within the confines of the palm, notillustrated, of the individuals hand with the aperture 38 in the bottomportion 26 of the housing 22 facing generally outwardly therefrom andthe part 42 of the disc 32 being in close proximity to the thumb, notillustrated, of the individual.

On tie peripheral outer edge portion of the ring-like element or member18 at still another location 50 thereon, which is substantiallydiametrically opposed to the location 46 whereat the visual indicator 14is secured thereto, the ring-like element 18 is secured, joined orformed integral with the audible signal 12 so that the audible signal 12will be disposed to the back, not illustrated, of the individuals handfor easy access thereto by the individuals month during the use of thesignaldndicator device 10, as may be required.

In passing, it is to be understood that while the modification of thesignal-indicator device 11 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 of thedrawing, show the top portion 24 of the housing 22 being secured, joinedor otherwise integrally formed at the locations 46 and 48 to thering-like elements 18 and 211 respectively, that the top portion 24 ofthe housing 22 may, if desired, be formed integral with, joined orotherwise secured to only one of the ring-like elements or members 18 or20. Also, in the same manner, the audible signal 12, while illustratedin FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing as being secured, joined or formedintegral with only the ringlike element or member 18 at the location51), that, if desired, the audible signal 12 may be joined, secured orformed integral with both of the ring-like elements or members 18-20 oronly the ring-like element 20.

In this way, the structure 16 is interposed between the audible signal12 and the visual indicator 14 in a suitable manner, such as beingsecured, joined or formed integral therewith, which enables both theaudible signal 12 and the visual indicator 14 to be easily accessible tothe individuals mouth and thumb, respectively, as required in theprocess of ofiiciating a football game.

Attention is now directed to FIGURE 5 of the drawing wherein amodification of the signal-indicator device 10 is illustrated. In thismodification, the arrangement of the structure 16 takes theconfiguration of arcuate elements or members 118 and 12th which areattached, secured, joined or formed integral to receive the index andmiddle fingers, not illustrated, of an individuals hand in a mannersimilar to the annular ring-like elements 18 and 20 of the modificationillustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. The arcuate elements or members 118 and120 may be secured, joined or formed integral at a location 144 and mayalso, in turn, be joined, secured or otherwise integrally formed withthe top portion 24 of the housing 22 at a location 146 and with theaudible signal 12 at a location 150.

The hand hold structure 16 may be of still another modification, asillustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawing, wherein the arrangement of thestructure 16 includes an elongated bar-like element or member 216 havingone end portion thereof joined, secured or formed integral with thebottom portion 26 of the housing 22 at a location 246 with the other endportion thereof being joined, secured or formed integral with theaudible signal 12 at a location 210. The bar-like element or member 216extends between the audible signal 12 and the visual indicator 14 andspaces the audible signal from the visual indicator a distance whichcorresponds substantially to the thickness of the individuals fingers sothat an in dividual may place the bar-like element or member 216 betweenthe index and middle fingers, not illustrated, of the individuals handso that the audible signal 12 and visual indicator 14 will be positionedas described and disclosed above.

While the invention has been described, disclosed and illustrated interms and forms of the embodiments or modifications which it has assumedin practice, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to belimited by these precise embodiments or modifications herein shown,illustrated, described and disclosed, and it is to be understood thatother such embodiments or modifications are intended to be eservedespecially as they fall within the scope of the claims herein subjoined.

I claim as my invention:

1. A signal-indicator device comprising, in combination,

structure having a plurality of portions secured together to define achamber,

an audible signal comprising a whistle supported by said structure,

a visual indicator comprising a disc mounted for rotation within saidchamber, said disc having a plurality of indicia thereon for indicatingthe down of a series of plays and a no down situation in a footballgame,

means for enabling selected ones of the indicia to be positioned asdesired so as to be individually viewed by an individual While using thedevice, said means comprising,

a bias for restricting the disc against rotation to maintain a selectedone of the i-ndicia in the desired position,

said disc further having a part thereof which extends beyond theconfines of the structure for engagement by an individuals thumb toenable the disc to be rotated on exertion thereby of a force greaterthan the force created by the bias to select and position one of theindicia on the disc as desired, and

said structure further being provided with an arrangement for enablingthe signal-indicator device to be attached to an individuals hand withthe audible signal being disposed adjacent the back, the visualindicator being disposed adjacent the palm and the part of the discbeing disposed adjacent to the thumb,

said arrangement having a portion thereof disposed for positioningbetween an individuals fingers.

2. A signal-indicator device for ofiiciating football games, said devicecomprising, in combination, structure defining a chamber,

an audible signal secured to said structure,

a visual indicator comprising a disc mounted for rotation within saidchamber,

said disc having a plurality of indicia thereon for indicating the downof a series of plays and a no down situation in a football game, and

an arrangement for enabling said device to be carried by an individualshand with the audible signal being disposed adjacent the back, thevisual indicator being disposed adjacent the palm and the disc operablydisposed adjacent the thumb thereof,

said arrangement having an elongate substantially rigid portion which isadapted to extend between and curve about at least a part of the fingersof such individuals hand.

3. A signal-indicator device comprising, in combination,

an audible signal.

a visual indicator, and

structure connecting the signal and the indicator together,

said structure having an elongate substantially rigid portion that isadapted to extend betWe-n and about at least a part of the fingers of anindividuals hand to enable the device to be carried thereby.

4. A signal-indicator device comprising, in combination,

an audible signal,

a visual indicator comprising a disc having indicia thereon,

structure for connectin the signal and the indicator together,

said disc being carried by said structure for movement between aplurality of positions,

means for enabling the disc to be retained in a selected one of thepositions, and

said structure having an elongate substantially rigid portion which isadapted to extend between and curve about at least a part of the fingersof an individuals hand.

5. A signal-indicator device having an audible signal comprising awhistle,

a visual indicator comprising a disc having indicia thereon forindicating a down of a series of plays in a football game, and

structure for connecting the signal and the indicator together with thedisc being rotatably mounted thereon,

said structure having an arrangement for enabling the device to becarried by an individuals hand,

said arrangement having an elongate substantially rigid portion which isadapted to extend between and about at least a part of an individualsfingers to enable the signal and the indicator to be disposed to opposedsides of an individuals hand with the disc being adjacent the thumbthereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS TestoSept. 18, 1962

1. A SIGNAL-INDICATOR DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, STRUCTUREHAVING A PLURALITY OF PORTIONS SECURED TOGETHER TO DEFINE A CHAMBER, ANAUDIBLE SIGNAL COMPRISING A WHISTLE SUPPORTED BY SAID STRUCTURE, AVISUAL INDICATOR COMPRISING A DISC MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITHIN SAIDCHAMBER, SAID DISC HAVING A PLURALITY OF INDICIA THEREON FOR INDICATINGTHE DOWN OF A SERIES OF PLAYS AND A NO DOWN SITUATION IN A FOOTBALLGAME, MEANS FOR ENABLING SELECTED ONES OF THE INDICIA TO BE POSITIONEDAS DESIRED SO AS TO BE INDIVIDUALLY VIEWED BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHILE USINGTHE DEVICE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING, A BIAS FOR RESTRICTING THE DISCAGAINST ROTATION TO MAINTAIN A SELECTED ONE OF THE INDICIA IN THEDESIRED POSITION, SAID DISC FURTHER HAVING A PART THEREOF WHICH EXTENDSBEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE STRUCTURE FOR ENGAGEMENT BY AN INDIVIDUAL''STHUMB TO ENABLE THE DISC TO BE ROTATED ON EXERTION THEREBY OF A FORCEGREATER THAN THE FORCE CREATED BY THE BIAS TO SELECT AND POSITION ONE OFTHE INDICIA ON THE DISC AS DESIRED, AND SAID STRUCTURE FURTHER BEINGPROVIDED WITH AN ARRANGEMENT FOR ENABLING THE SIGNAL-INDICATOR DEVICE TOBE ATTACHED TO AN INDIVIDUAL''S HAND WITH THE AUDIBLE SIGNAL BEINGDISPOSED ADJACENT THE BACK, THE VISUAL INDICATOR BEING DISPOSED ADJACENTTHE PALM AND THE PART OF THE DISC BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE THUMB,SAID ARRANGEMENT HAVING A PORTION THEREOF DISPOSED FOR POSITIONINGBETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL''S FINGERS.